the penguin of doom

Hi all. Bit of a gap between postings (mainly because 8 peaks are taking alot longer to do than I thought as DIY keeps getting in the way!). The news is that the V1/L1 is on the starting blocks and ready to go. I spent Sunday at the Warley show and Mali and I managed to source various bits to get work under way. We found a Bachmann 2MT from the Bachmann seconds section for a bargain price. I don't think Mr DMR was there, but a visit to the Alan Gibson stand and a chat with the man himself - who was very helpful even though I showed my steam ignorance by showing him the drawing and doing an Andy Pipkin impression, (I want THAT ONE!) and supplied me with all the parts for the boiler and fall plate. A visit to the ABS stand revealed a white metal or brass L1 kit. I still maintain that my soldering skills prevent me from building a kit this way, but a chat with Mr Swain resulted in the sourcing of the valve gear parts to correct the 2MT chassis. I have not ordered these yet, however, I'm going to order two sets on the pretence that I may need a practice set, but will hopefully end up with a spare set for the K1. So, thats all for now, work on the Peaks continues and as soon as they're done, I will be attacking this one with a vengeance! I will start a thread in one of the other sections as I have discovered the format is similar to the old site, but will post a link here when appropriate, so all those out there who are like me and computer illiterate can find it. Cheers for now. Sean.

Hi all. So, I've managed to strip down the V1 locomotive and found that the cab rear and bunker are a seperate moulding which will help with the conversion. No photo's as its chucking it down outside... It would appear that alot of the measurements for the front part of the cab are correct for the L1, so I think I will be able to construct the rear part of the cab and bunker in plasticard, taking measurements from the drawing. The front buffer beam and fall plate will need altering drastically and I think it would be easier to saw off the front fall plate completely and construct a new one, again, from plasticard in the same way as I did the K1. Problem there though is, since this is a tank engine, the front buffer beam has to be strong enough to haul a train. I may need to use some brass as well in that case. Why is nothing ever that simple though????...... Having measured the length of the boiler, I find its about 2mm too short, (as Horsetan quite correctly pointed out above) and the cab roof is about 2mm too long! Murphys law I guess. Can I live with it? Probably. Do I want to do it right? Definately! I may need to return to this entry during the build! Anywho, I'm off to do a little more measuring now and make a shopping list for Warley next week. Hopefully the DMR stand will be full of useful L1 bits.... Hint hint if you're reading Mr DMR! You never know, if I can get two sets of front valve gear, I may resurrect the K1 thread! Cheers for now. Sean.

Hi Chris. Nice to see you on the new site. Please keep us all posted of all your progress. Cheers matey. Sean.

If afraid time has been tight this week and with DIY stuff needing completing, I've had little chance to finish the Peaks, let alone start this project. Hopefully be up and running over the next week or so though. Watch this space......

Hi Simon. Managed to find this post without being directed as it was the top entry in the column to the right. Goes without saying that I'll be watching with interest and I'll try not to fall too far behind with my build! Cheers. Sean.

Excellent Simon and thanks for your reply. My V3 arrived this morning, so once the DIY is finished, (Yes Horsetan, the wardrobes won in the end.... ), I'll be getting to work with the scalpel. Perhaps Simon, you'll post a link to your thread once its up and running. It's still a bit of a minefield finding my way around the new site and I'm sure there'll be others who want to watch both who have the same phobia's as me. I've only found two threads so far that I'm interested in and I'm sure there's many more to find within the site.... Cheers for now. Sean.

Just had another thought Simon... (I know, I should be careful). It would be interesting to see how both models progress if you choose to use the N chassis? Are you going to run your own thread, or join in on here? either way, let me know as I'm sure I'll need some inspiration at some point during the build.... Cheers. Sean.

Hi all. A litle bit of progress news re this model. Firstly, I managed to source a relatively cheap V1 from e bay and so that should be winging its way to me during the week. Myself and Mali spent about an hout last night comparing the V1 body with the drawings and the 2MT chassis. I have not managed to source an N class drawing or chassis, but can confirm that the 2MT wheel size and spacing matches the drawing perfectly. As the valve gear is completely wrong, I had a brain wave. DMR supplied a few bits for my K1, but I note they actually do a full K1 kit, so I'm going to see if they can supply just the valve gear to me and then I'll have a go at just using the bits that differ from the 2MT. So. providing I can get the correct parts, I should be well on my way to something near the L1. Who knows, I may even purchase 2 sets and correct my K1????........... Cheers. Sean.

Hi All. Just reading through the above and AT THE MOMENT, I'm siding with Simon as I think (again with due respect to Horsetan) his way could get costly. That said, I think Mali is all for Horsetans idea..... (Its alright for him, he's not doing the conversion!!!

Horsetan, Must have posted my last as you were posting your bit. Hmmmn, how easy do we think it would be to use a 2MT chassis with N valve gear and cylinders? I'm not entirely sure how easy it is to dismantle Bachmann valve gear? Problem is, it could end up expensive, just t get the varying parts, even just to have a look at and tinker. I will be going to Warley this year, so may try to have a sneaky look at all the models mentioned and see what they all look like in the flesh as it were....

Hi all. Thanks for your comments. Looking at all the info and purely from a point of ease, it looks like the N chassis might fit the bill. Ultimately it will be Mali's choice though as its going to be his loco, (I suspect he's keeping a sneaky eye on this post). Roger, can you just confirm as above that the N wheelbase is 2' too long? That does seem alot, but I'm hopeful it may be disguised. Simon, firstly, keep the faith as regards the dissertation. The current Mrs Penguin has just started out on a uniersity degree, so I feel I know what you're going through. I think the N cylinders are about right for the L1 and I remember from my K1 that DMR do some LNER style bits, (sorry, I don't know the technical terms) for the cylinder front and backs. As regards the rear bogies, its almost as if you don't see the woods for the trees, as the B1 front bogie, spun around is the correct wheelbase and diameter if my drawings are correct. I'll stand corrected if, (as is usual), if I am wrong, but if right, thats the chassis about sorted. Obviously still pondering, but I reckon that using the V1 body and just extending the tanks, cabs etc may make a decent job of this. Plenty of plasticard on standby for the job ahead..... Cheers. Sean.

Sorry Simon. I'm not ignoring you, and you make a valid point with the N class. What I'm considering is can I gat a set of N class valve gear and use it with the 2MT chassis? Then I could use the V1 body. Due to the site being a bit up in the air and my life being of a similar style at the mo, I have managed to overlook your post. Still looking at all options though and I'll be doing some measuring and comparison of photo's in good time though. In the mean time, I'm concentrating on finishing my peaks..... Brush painting 8 of them is taking some time I can tell you! Cheers. Sean.

Any news Horsetan? I knw the sites being down a while, so don't want to appear over eager? I think Mali has an LMS 2-6-0 chassis for me which has the right wheel base, (possibly a 2MT?), but the cylinders/valve gear is wrong and I'd like to try and find the right ones if possible? Cheers. Sean.

Right then. Seems like I'll be needing a cheap V1 then. This kind of puts the project back a bit, but on the plus side, my mindless optimism says that I may end up with the right size side tanks or somewhere thereabouts. Also on the plus side, the valve gear may be somewhere near correct although I have no doubt whatsoever that the wheel spacing, (or the 2-6 bit of the 2-6-2) will be completely wrong. I'm just not that lucky you see..... Cheers for now. Sean.

Yay! Hopefully I'll be able to read this when I press post blog! Its all a bit new to me, but suffice it to say, yesterday morning I started a thread on the old site and have now been directed here, so at the risk of repeating myself, I'm attempting to make an LNER L1 class loco using similar methods to my last steam project, a K1. The discussion had steered towards the use of a B1 boiler or a V1/V3 boiler, dependant on which was correct. So, as I sail off into Rmweb/community, my question is thrown open. My thoughts were towards the B1 boiler, but have any of you out there got any thoughts on the matter? Cheers for now. Sean.